As the curtain comes up on the 2006 steeplechase season, the National Steeplechase Foundation looks back on 2005 and notes where its financial support ($134,601) was used to support steeplechasing in a variety of ways. 

Drug Testing - The NSF dedicated $55,330 to the drug testing program wherein the winning horse in each race, as well as one or two horses selected at random at every meet, were tested for forbidden substances. This program not only protects the health and welfare of the horses, but it also provides a level playing field for all competitors. Also, for the first time several horses at each meet were randomly selected for pre-race blood tests that are designed to deter the use of illegal “milkshakes”.

Racecourse Inspections - The NSF spent $19,971 on this popular program to enable course inspector Barry Watson to visit each course on the NSA circuit, and to evaluate potential new courses. Watson is very adept at providing valuable tips and recommendations to race meet directors, and his perceptive course condition reports - appearing on the weekly overnights - are relied upon by horsemen. 

Amateurism - To advance this important spirit, which many consider the backbone of steeplechasing in this country, the NSF dedicated $22,500 in support of seven Foxhunter Races and two Highweight Amateur Races during the season. It also created two new awards that will honor the champion amateur riders on the NSA circuit ­ the Davies Amateur Championship will honor the amateur rider who wins the most races during the year and the Foxhunters’ Chase Award will honor the amateur rider that earns the most points in that popular timber series. 

Public Relations - The NSF authorized a $15,000 grant that was used to underwrite the direct cost of a public relations campaign during the 2005 Saratoga season, in acknowledgement of the importance of maintaining a steeplechase presence in Saratoga. It produces heightened visibility in the Thoroughbred racing community, not to mention 10 percent of steeplechasing’s entire purse structure. 

ARCA - The NSF approved a $10,000 grant in support of the Amateur Riders Club of America, in keeping with the NSF¹s mission to ³foster national and international amateur sports competition.² The grant was used to underwrite the travel expenses of sending U.S. amateurs to compete in Europe, and bringing European amateur riders to the U.S. to compete in the Fegentri Race at the International Gold Cup.

Americans at Aintree - The NSF made a $5,000 contribution in support of the April 29, 2005 gala that celebrated the numerous attempts by Americans to win the English Grand National for over 100 years, with special tribute being paid to the two winning attempts: Jay Trump in 1965 and Ben Nevis in 1980, ridden by amateurs Tommy Smith and Charlie Fenwick, respectively. In return for its contribution, the NSF acquired ownership of an eight-panel display extolling the virtues of the English Grand National and the Maryland Hunt Cup; the display is being exhibited at the National Steeplechase Museum in Camden, S.C.

Research - The NSF also allotted $4,000 in support of the ongoing survey conducted by the Marion du Pont Scott Equine Medical Center in its efforts to collect and interpret data from all NSA race meets for the purposes of pinpointing the causes of various equine injuries.

Advertising ­ The NSF contracted with Steeplechase Times to place a one-half page ad in each of the 13 editions published in 2005, at a cost of $2,800.  These ads were an easily recognized feature in the popular newspaper, and enabled the NSF to educate the steeplechase public about its work and accomplishments throughout the year.